Rose Festival Announces Contestants for RoseQueen and Teen Pageants

(photo courtesy Rod Soat Photography)

The Jackson County Rose Festival has announced the names of the Top Ten Contestants who will compete for Miss Jackson County RoseQueen.Earlier this year, 19 young women took the stage to compete for a spot in the Top Ten at the 2017 Jackson County RoseQueen Scholarship Pageant. The Festival announced the name of this years contestants: Emily Downs, Emily Blakeman, Claire Bourdeaux, Jennifer Holubowicz, Mackenzie Fairbanks, Abbigail Nelson.Celia Napoletano, Jameshia Suddeth, Morgan Bell and Koyranna Beavers.The candidates are pictured above with current RoseQueen Ashley Sierminski.

According to Lynda Waldron, Executive Director of the Pageant, the competition focuses on important assets that will help develop long-lasting life skills such as outstanding public speaking, commitment to the community, poise and leadership.“The majority of the scoring will be focused on these areas,” said Waldron.

The Pageant will be held on Saturday, August 5th at Western High School’s Performance Center.The winner will represent Jackson County at the 2018 Miss Michigan USA Pageant.

Tickets are available for this year’s pageant at jacksonrosefestival.org.Tickets are $12, students 5 to 17 are $5 and children under the age of 5 are free.

If you would like more information on where RoseQueen candidates will appear or to have them at your event, contact Lynda Waldron via email at: jacksoncountyrosequeen@gmail.com.

The Jackson County Teen USA Scholarship Pageant, the companion Pageant to the RoseQueen Pageant,will be heldFriday, August 4 at Western Performing Arts Center.The Pageant announced this year’s scholarships and prizes. “This is more scholarship money then we have EVER awarded in years past. The Jackson Community never ceases to amaze me with their generosity” says Windy Chmiel, 1996 RoseQueen and Executive Director of Miss Jackson County Teen USA.

Other cash prizes will also be awarded to to various winners such as best essay, best interview and other categories.

Total scholarships and prizes awarded this year total $18,210.00. “I am pleased to saythat we award more scholarship money then any other Teen local pageant in the state of Michigan.This pageant is Number 1 for a reason. We hold our young ladies to a certain standard and the community and the sponsors appreciate and recognize that.” says Chmiel.